Articles: emergency-services.
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Burn injury cases were identified from a population-based sample of trauma visits to hospital emergency departments in northeastern Ohio during 1977. The 199 cases represented 2.4% of all trauma incidence visits by residents of the five-county study region. Ninety-five per cent of the burn cases were released from the emergency department directly after treatment. ⋯ Most burns occurred at home or the workplace. The youngest employed age group sustained the highest rate of work-related burns. Hot or corrosive substances caused two thirds of all burns; fire and flames caused one fourth.
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A prospective survey of cardiopulmonary resuscitation is in progress in the Accident and Emergency Department of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. During the 12 months from January 1985 to January 1986, 123 cardiac arrests were treated in the accident department. ⋯ Of the 33 people arresting in the department, 10 survived to leave hospital. The causes of death are presented.
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The hand-held computer (HHC) allows computer technology to be brought inexpensively to the patient's bedside. In this paper we describe HHC applications software that interprets oxygenation, ventilation, and acid-base status--and also provides a differential diagnosis and makes suggestions for therapy. ⋯ Computerized arterial blood gas interpretation is especially helpful to students and others who infrequently interpret arterial blood gases. The software described here has been enthusiastically accepted by emergency department personnel in our institution.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The effectiveness of an organized emergency department follow-up system.
Half the patients discharged home from our emergency department with the diagnoses of acute infection, cervicolumbar strain, bronchospasm, allergic reaction, headache, syncope, vaginal hemorrhage, and undiagnosed chest/abdominal pain were randomly assigned to receive a follow-up telephone call two to three days after their visit. Patients in the follow-up call group were telephoned by an ED nurse who questioned them about changes in their clinical status and clarified the aftercare and referral instructions received during the ED visit. Seven days after the visit, a questionnaire that rated patient satisfaction about six aspects of the ED visit was sent to those patients who had been contacted successfully (study group), and to a diagnosis-matched group of patients (control) who did not receive a follow-up call. ⋯ No difference was observed in questionnaire ratings between the female study and control groups. We conclude that male patients reached by a follow-up telephone call have a more positive perception of their ED visit. A follow-up call also can be useful for reinforcing aftercare instructions, follow-up referrals, and problem-patient identification.